Decarbonisation Technology - February 2023

the pipeline system. Wells in these locations are associated with basaltic rock formations where there is evidence that the CO 2 is converted to carbonates, leading to geologically permanent sequestration of the carbon. UOP is now applying its know-how to a number of CCS opportunities in Australia and S.E. Asia (Malaysia and Indonesia). These are mainly offshore and, again, the natural gas has a high CO 2 concentration, and the gas wells are associated with basaltic formations, allowing long-term sequestration and storage. Other countries, such as Korea, lack suitable sites for storage and will need to export the CO 2 . To deliver similar solutions in these locales, the infrastructure and ecosystem need to be developed, requiring investment in infrastructure, including pipelines for transporting the captured CO 2 and access to suitable sites for long-term sequestration (see Figure 2 ). Indeed, partnerships between companies and the government are important enablers in accelerating the process. While UOP brings know- how and experience in carbon capture to the table, it also works with partners with expertise relating to CO 2 transport infrastructure as well as those who manage the storage sites. While industry can take the lead, government support is critical. Over in the US, for instance, the Mississippi Legislature introduced House Bill 1214 to permit the change in the use of existing pipelines and reservoirs to allow carbon capture and storage in addition to enhanced oil recovery. Another example is the use of incentives such as the US Government 45Q tax credits for industries to store CO 2 rather than emit it to the atmosphere. These provide the necessary incentives for the carbon sequestration technology to be deployed en masse. Developing a hydrogen economy Carbon capture is also a facilitator for developing a hydrogen economy. Between now and 2030, carbon capture will be added to existing steam methane reformers, changing grey hydrogen to blue hydrogen. This is a straightforward option using currently available technology to produce hydrogen with the lowest carbon intensity (see Figure 3 ). In December 2022, Honeywell UOP and Johnson Matthey (JM) announced a new partnership to advance lower-carbon hydrogen solutions. This partnership integrates JM’s innovated LCH

2020 Other Direct air capture Fuel supply Hydrogen production Biofuels production Other

2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Industry Industry combustion Industry processes Electricity sector Bioenergy Gas Coal

Figure 2 Global CO 2 capture by source in the NZE

coal power plants with carbon capture is one option, but another more sustainable option may be to transition coal power plants to natural gas with carbon capture. Onshore in places such as West Texas and offshore, such as in the North Sea near Scotland, natural gas streams have a high CO 2 concentration. UOP membranes have been used to separate CO 2 from natural gas for many years. Typically, the CO 2 is reinserted into the wells, while the higher-purity natural gas is fed into

ACTIVE PROJECTS

Wabash Valley Resources • UOP selected as technology provider for carbon capture and hydrogen purification for hydrogen production from gasifier in West Terra Haute, Indiana • One of the largest CCS projects (1.65 Mt/yr CO 2 ) and second US project to sequester CO 2 in permanent geologic storage (not EOR) SK Innovation and Energy • Honeywell UOP selected for feasibility study to retrofit SK’s hydrogen plant with carbon capture • SK will explore capturing and sequestering 400,000 tons of CO 2 from existing hydrogen production assets at its refinery in Ulsan, Korea using UOP technologies